6 October 2010

Silent Skyscrapers of Thialand




They stand like massive man-made skeletons, abandoned towers that were supposed to be luxurious high-rise residences, hotels and office buildings. The ghost structures that haunt Bangkok, Thailand – abandoned in mid-construction since Asia’s 1997-1998 economic meltdown – are a sad and frightening hint at what many stalled skyscraper projects around the world might become.

An estimated 320 high rises have been left to rot for over a decade. Some, like the 68-story neoclassical State Tower, were finally finished. But many – like the 47-story Sathorn Unique Tower – may dot the skyline in visually striking if not beautiful spires of rusting metal and stained concrete for years to come. Though construction continues on new buildings across Bangkok, the bankrupt developers who began these abandoned skyscrapers are unable or unwilling to take action. During storms, crumbling debris rains down on the streets below.


The bloggers at Riding Out the Economy got a look inside the Sathorn Unique. Litter and construction materials strewn on every floor, pitch black stairways, gaping holes and menacing exposed metal pipes gave the interior a disturbingly post-apocalyptic atmosphere. But once they reached the roof, the incredible views of the city made it clear why this building was set to be such a prestigious address when it was conceived.

“There was a skeletal aspect to everything: pipes, wires, outlets, rebar all left uncovered in an otherwise fairly complete project,” they write.  “Rooms were left wide open to the elements, but had fully furnished bathrooms and wood floors already put in and left to rot. But, I’m getting ahead of myself. Once up the escalators, we were faced with abandoned rooms, adorned with the oddest objects: a manikin, the King’s picture, a dilapidated couch.”

11 comments:

  1. What a waste of money! All the poor people in that country could have benefited tremendously from that money being used to rebuild old neighborhoods. Instead, whole neighborhoods were destroyed to make way for towers that will never be completed. Human beings suck.

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  2. Why the hell would they keep the escalators going?

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  3. wow crazy..i love being close to the ground ; )

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  4. Uh, escalators that don't move are just normal stairs.

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  5. G'day "highpriestes" and welcome.

    I agree that its such a waste of funds.. Not only that, but now that they are in such a state of disrepair more money will have to be spent in the future to either demolish or repair them.

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  6. I watched the clip again Dave.. I didn't see any escalators moving..

    and nice to see you back again "secret corners"

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  7. Some pretty awesome views though from up there Rob.

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  8. it says (above) "Once up the escalators, we were faced with abandoned rooms"

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  9. Duffer.. they probably used the escelators as stairs as suggested above.

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  10. I'd heard about this..banks eating bad loans again..there is some question whether the Burj Khalifa in Dubai will even be finished..money has dried up everywhere..the below building was in Shanghai China and just fell over due to erosion..http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2009/06/nearly-complete-13-story-building-falls-in-shanghai-one-worker-dead/





    typical of most Chinese construction, it was poorly 'anchored' with no steel or concrete pilings..all the units had been sold and owners were unsure if and when they'd get their money back

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  11. Difficult to believe that this can actually happen. .. Im refering to the inadequate engineering.

    Very interesting, thank you for the link Rick.

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